Detachable cover for boxes.



PATENTED SEPT. 1, 1903..

' H. G. ROTH.

DETAOHABLB GOVERPOR BOXES.

APPLIOAT ION FILED JAN. 5. 1903. N0 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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PATENTED SEPT. 1, 1903.v

H. G. ROTH.

DETAGHABLE COVER FOR BOXES;

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 5. 1903.

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No. 737,776. PATENTE D SEPT. 1 1903'.

H. G. ROTH. DETAGHABLE COVER FOR BOXES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 5, 1903.

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Patented September 1, 1903.

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY G. ROTH, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

DETACHABLE COVER FOR BOXES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 737,776, dated September 1, 1903. Application filed January 5, 1903. Serial No. 137,784. (No model.)

To (LZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY G. ROTH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Detachable Covers for Boxes; and I do hereby declare the following to he a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My present invention has for its object to provide an improved detachable cover for cracker-boxes and boxes of a similar character; and to such ends the invention consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described, and defined in the claims. 7

As is well known, crackers, cookies, and various other groceries and certain classes of confectionery are sold out of the boxes in which they are put up and shipped, and to afford ready access thereto and at the same time to protect the goods detachable covers, usually having hinged sections, have commonly been applied to close the opened sides of the boxes. It has been the common practice to secure such covers to the boxes by means of screws, which have been screwed into the edges of the sides of the box. As the sides of the box are thin, they have very frequently been split by the screws. Furthermore, the covers cannot be quickly applied or removed by the use of screws.

By my invention I provide a detachable box-cover which may be very quickly applied and removed and which will not damage the box.

Several forms of my improved box-cover are illustratedin the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters designate like parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a box having one of my improved detachable covers, so called, applied to close the opened sides of the box. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the detachable cover shown in Fig. 1 removed from the box. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the irregular line x x of Fig. 1, some parts being broken away. Fig. at is an elevation looking at the inner side of the detachable cover shown in the foregoing views.

Fig. 5 is a detail, on an enlarged scale, show ing a portion of one of the so-called extension-strips of the detachable cover. Fig. 6 is a view corresponding to Fig. 4, but illustrating a modified construction and with some parts broken away. Fig. '7 is a section on the line m m of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is also a view corresponding to Fig. 4, but illustrating still another modified construction, some parts being brokenaway; and Fig. 9 is a detail in section on the line at w of Fig. 8.

In Figs. 1 and 3 an ordinary cracker-box is designated by the numeral 1. The detachable cover 2 is bulged and is provided with a hinged upper section 3; but its marginal portion t is rectangular and fits the rectangular edge of the opened sides of the box. This bulged feature of the detachable cover does not, however, relate to my present invention, but is a form advisably employed, for the reason that it increases the holding capacity of the box.

To the vertical sides of the marginal rim 4 are adjustably secured so-called extensionstrips 5, shown as secured thereto by screws 6, which are screwed into said rim and cooperate with serrated slots 7 in said strips 5. Preferably the extension-strips 5 are set into depressed seats 8 of said rim 4, so that they lie flush with the inner surface of said rim. On the outer edge of said extension-strip 5 are several deteuts afforded by lateral projecting spring-fingers 9, the free ends of which are turned inward to form retaining-lips 10. The retaining-lips 10 are sharpened and beveled in one direction only. In other words, the lips 10 have the shape of a ratchet-tooth, so that they can be freely moved over a wooden surface in one direction only.

By the proper adjustment of the extensionstrips 5 the detachable cover may be adapted to fit and close the opened side of a box which is either somewhat wider or somewhat narrower than the rectangular rim 4 of said cover, and the retaining-lips 10 will by such adjustments of said strips 5 be properly adjusted for action on the sides of the box. The cover is applied to the opened side of the box by sliding movement in the direction from the position indicated by dotted lines into the position indicated by full lines in Fig. 1, and this would of course usually be done ICO when the opened side of the box was turned upward. Under this movement of the cover the ratchet-like retaining-lips 10 cut a slight channel in the outer surface of the sides of the box, substantially as indicated in Fig. 3; but they will resist a sliding movement of the cover. The cover would therefore have to be removed from the box by continued movement in the direction in which it was applied. Furthermore, when the box is set with the detachable side upright, as shown in Fig. l, the ratchet-like retaining-lips will hold the same up against action of gravity or any other force tending to drive the cover downward on the box. The spring detents or fingers 9 should be strongenough to force the retaining-lips into the sides of the box, and, in fact, in some cases they might be nearly rigid or practically unyielding. In case the extension-strips should not be employed the detents or fingers 9 might be directly or otherwise secured to the detachable cover.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 the extension-strips 5 are secured-to sliding bars 11, which are held in suitable guideways formed in the rim 4 of the cover 2 by means of thin retaining-plates 12. The inner ends of the bars 11 terminate in racks 13, which cooperate with pinions 14, carried by stems 15, journaled in suitable bearings 16 in the sides of the cover, all as best shown in Fig. 7. In this modification the retaininglips 17 are V-shaped and are secured to the extension-strips 5 in substantially the same manner as are the lips 10 in the construction previously described.

In Figs. 8 and 9 still another modification is illustrated, in which the retaining-lips 18 are approximately semicircular at theirsharpened and projecting edges and are carried by short slides 19, which Work in guide-boxes 20, countersunk into and secured to the rim 4: of the cover 2. The slides 19, and hence also of course the lips 18., are yieldingly pressed inward by springs 21, compressed within the box 20 between the front ends thereof and the laterally-bent inner ends of said slides, as best shown in Fig. 9. One advantage incident to this latter-described construction is that the boxes 20, with their cooperating devices, may be applied to the margin of the detachable cover at its intermediate portions, as well as at its ends.

A cover equipped with the retaining devices illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 may be applied to a box by an endwise-sliding movement either upward or downward. A cover equipped with the retaining devices illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 may be placed in working position on the box laterally or without sliding movements, as the retaining-lips 17 may be forced into the sides of the box by turning the stems 15 and pinions 14. If desired, some suitable means, such as a nut or a spring, may be provided for holding frictionally or otherwise the pinions 14, and hence the retaining-lips 18, in their set positions.

From what has been said it will of course be understood that the detachable cover above described is capable of considerable modification within the scope of my invention as herein set forth and claimed.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

1. A detachable cover having retaininglips formed with sharp inclined edges adapted to plow edgewise into the sides of the box when the cover is slid edgewise into position on the box, substantially as described.

2. A detachable cover having the ratchetlike retaining-lips, the beveled edges only of which are sharpened and are adapted to plow' edgewise into the sides of the box when the cover is slid edgewise into position on the box.

3. A detachable cover having an extensionstrip secured thereto for adjustments edgewise approximately in the plane of said cover, to thereby extend or contract the said cover itself, as Well as to adjust said retaining-lips, said extension-strip having retaining-lips engageable with the sides of the box to hold the cover in place, substantially as described.

4. A detachable cover having extensionstrips mounted for adjustments thereon in approximately the plane of said cover, to expand and contract the said cover itself, as well as to adjust said retaining-lips, said extension-strips having rigidly secured thereto laterally-offset and inturned retaining-lips formed with inclined sharp edges, for engagement with the sides of the box, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY G. ROTH.

Witnesses:

GENEVIEVE HIRSCH, F. D. lVIEROHANT.

ICC 

